Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-27

Tho experiment. II You do not choose
to come back with me can live alone
ns did before"
81 cannot 60 back, Aunt Hide"
81 suppose it is all on accout Of that
follow
"Ihere are some things even you
must not speak Of" Marion said, the
proud Hurst blood flaming in her
cheeks, and for the moment Aunt Hilda
was silenced.
But she remained for lunch, and at
lunch she surveyed me critically, con-
descendingly admitted that had i'm.
proved. and before she left offered me q
chill invitation to pay her visit.
Mother WIS very pleased. ] think
adversely had weakened her character,
she seemed so terribly anxious TO keep
in with the only one of her relatives
who had manifested friendliness to-
words her. To everything Aunt Hilda
did she imputed the noblest motives ;
while it must be candidly admitted
that sometimes IL needed q good deal of
imagination 10 detect the nobility. For
instance, she must have known how
much trifing present would have
simplifed the efforts attendant on my
going to visit her; but she never vol
unteered it or made any reference
thereto, except in saying ooldly to Ma
ron: "You know what dresses she will
require.
Never mind" Marion said to me
when we were alone, awe shall manage
without her money"
hated to take Marion's things from
her, for they were all so beautiful and
suited her SO well, and | think she had
a certain womanly pleasure in being al
ways well dressed but what could |
do? Aunt Hilda had invited me, and
every one said [ must go to her, and
there was no other way Of giving me an
outfit. OF course | protested continu-
ally. but Marion was firmly insistent.
II do not need dinner dresses and
tea gowns at MUdford, che said "be-
sides, Aunt Hilda will like you better
for being presentable."
81 don't think / shall go to Aunt
Hilda," ] said several times. "what is
the good of going? She will make me
uncomfortable, and she will never like
me, because | am not Hurst.
"Whcn things are good for us We
must swallow them, no matter how
they are favored and it is good for
YOU to go to Aunt Hilda and be intro
duced to society and see what ladies
and gentlemen are like" Marion said,
smiling.
81 think there are very good ladies
and gentlemen at Mudford," l an
swcred jealousy.
"Of course there are but there are
more in London" Marion said de-
murely, as she went on trimming my
hat.
looked very well when l was finally
prepared for my journey-very well
for me, I mean, and Aunt Hilda unbent
little when she saw me, and told me
again that had improved.
Aunt Hilda's house was not at all
what had expected. 1t was small and
gloomy, and many things in it were
worn and shabby; but it must have
been the right style of house, or Aunt
Hilda would not have had it; and
knowing that, | kept my observations
to myself and enjoyed what was nice
with all my heart.
The servants were quite revelation
to me, with their silent, respectful ways
and their trim and spotless clothing
and to lave my hair dressed by Aunt
Hilda's maid, and to be takent to the thea
tire in Aunt Rilda' neat little brougham,
filed me with ecstasy. No doubt
there was q good deal of snobbishness
in my satisfaction because | dine1 at s
O'Clock, and had a man-servAnt to hand
me things but We cannot help being
as nature has moulded us, and it was
not my fault that nature, which had
made Marion a Hurst, had made me
only snob.
OF course life with Aunt Hilda was
not one of unalloyed joy at the first.
Often and often L was homesick,
and longed from the depths of my
heart for the crowded house and the
noisy demonstrative love of the young
ones at home. But after time [ out
grew that, and when my pleasures and
the occupations provided for me had
begun to absorb me grew to shudder a
little at the recollection Of the life | had
left behind.
GLOW could Marion go back to it 2"
L asked myself hundred times,
and the question always remained IN
answered. 70 have been offered life
with Aunt Hilaa, and to have volunta-
rily and cheeriully chosen the other,
was ;ncomprehensible to me.
CHAPTER II.
Welcome home, dear Lucy
"Yes, l have come back could not
60 on any longer without seeing you
ALL"
Mother was kissing me efusiyely, and
the young ones had clustered round TO